Ease Of Doing Business in Nigeria: PEBEC Completes 31 Reforms in 60 Days

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has released a report card on the 60-Day National Action Plan on Ease of Doing Business which was implemented from February 21, 2017 to April 21, 2017.

The report, which highlights 31 completed reforms across the Council’s eight priority indicators, was unveiled on Monday, April 24, 2017, at PEBEC’s monthly meeting.

A statement from the PEBEC Secretariat disclosed that the “Report Card is in keeping with PEBEC’s promise to be accountable to Nigerians for the targets set and promises made.

“Completed reforms are being closely monitored to ensure diligent implementation with minimal disruption, and pending reforms are being escalated to ensure completion in the coming weeks.”

On Starting a Business, the report highlighted the CAC’s online registration portal, document upload interface, single incorporation form, e-stamping, among other reforms which have led to a reduction in the number of days needed to incorporate a business. The completed reforms on the Entry and Exit of People indicator include Simplified Visa-on-Arrival process, Infrastructural improvements at the Abuja airport, and the new Immigration Regulation 2017.

On Trading across Borders, some of the completed reforms include palletisation of imports, advanced cargo manifests, reduction in documentation requirements and scheduling of Joint Physical Examination by the Customs Service.

The National Action Plan contained initiatives and actions implemented by responsible Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the National Assembly, the Governments of Lagos and Kano states, as well as some private sector stakeholders.

PEBEC is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) but Monday’s meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Other Ministers at today’s meeting included Foreign Affairs Ministers Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of State for Industry Trade & Investment Aisha Abubakar, and her counterpart in Budget & National Planning Zainab Ahmed. Other government dignataries at the meeting included the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, and several heads of MDAs. The report was presented by Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Trade & Investment.

The Council emphasised that with the conclusion of implementation of the Action Plan, the next phase would involve “deepening existing reforms; completing and implementing pending initiatives; engaging with the public; validating completed reforms and kicking-off medium-term reforms.”

The Council would also kick-start “sub-national reforms across Nigeria’s 36 states; trading within Nigeria; kick-off of initiatives and reforms improving business processes and regulations within Nigeria; and ease of movement of goods within and across regions in Nigeria.”

PEBEC’s Mandate:

Remove critical bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria

Move Nigeria 20 places upwards in the World Bank Doing Business Rankings

Priority Areas:

Starting a Business

Construction Permits

Getting Electricity

Registering Property

Getting Credit

Paying Taxes

Trading Across Borders

Entry and Exit of People

A: Starting a Business

60-Day Target: To reduce number of days required for business registration from 10 days to 2 days

60-Day Target: To reduce number of days required to get construction permits from 42 days to 20 days in Lagos

Reforms: COMPLETED

E-planning platform: Operationalised electronic planning platform (www.lagosepp.com.ng) through which applications can be made and tracked, fees can be paid and architectural designs uploaded

Clarity on EIA and Soil Test: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) required for only construction works with potentially heavy impact on the environment. Soil Investigation Report only required for four-storey buildings and above, except in cases of construction in marshy or swampy areas.

60-Day Target: To streamline procedures and improve timelines for businesses to get connected to the grid

Reforms: COMPLETED

Reduction in number of procedures from 9 to 5: The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued draft order officially reducing number of procedures for new connections to the grid from 9 to 5

Reduction in timeline from 198 days to 61 days: NERC has issued draft order officially reducing timeline for new connections to the grid from 198 days to 61 days

Registering Property (Lagos)

60 Day-Target: To reduce number of days required to register property from 77 to 30 and eliminate unnecessary procedures

Reforms: COMPLETED

Sworn affidavit no longer needed: Eliminated requirement for sworn affidavit as a procedure for conducting title search at the Lagos Land Registry

On-going streamlining of registration process: Merged requirement for stamping of Deed of Assignment with final registration process, for lands owned by Lagos State Government

Reforms: PENDING

Consolidation of payments: Consolidate several payments into one

Reduction of time for governor’s consent: Reduce time for consent as it exceeds that of countries with similar laws